1. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna Meeting of the Permanent Intergovernmental Group L’Europe de l’Enfance Vienna - 2 May, 2006

2. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna Survey on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding Observations on the last EU Countries' Reports Survey on the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Concluding Observations on the last EU Countries' Reports Commissioned by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Security, Generations and Consumer Protection

3. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna Aims of the survey To identify the issues most frequently examined by the CRC Committee To identify the points of strength and weakness in the EU Countries CRC implementation To point out the issues on which EU Countries can improve their policies of intervention

4. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna Steps of the survey 1. Collection of documents (25 EU member countries + 4 accession/candidate countries) 2. Overview on the general measures of implementation of the CRC 3. Identification and analysis of the common specific issues 4. Realization of a final report

5. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna Final report structure Introduction on origin, aims, methodology and contents of the survey Analysis of the CRC Committee COs as regards the general measures of implementation of the CRC Analysis of the CRC Committee COs as regards specific rights Conclusions Executive summary Annexed documentation (COs by country and for each specific issue analysed; relevant documents by the CRC Committee e.g. general comments and general discussions)

6. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna Analysed issues following the structure of the CRC and the COs: General measures of implementation General principles Civil rights and freedom Education Family environment Basic health and welfare Special measures of protection

7. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna - Coordination and National Plan of Action - Dissemination and training - Independent monitoring institutions - Data collection P 1. General Measures of Implementation (GMI)

8. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GMI -Coordination and National Plan of Action (I) (25 EU countries and 4 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (27) - the approval of comprehensive national plan of action, incorporating the objectives and goals of the document “A World Fit for Children”, 2002 (11) - the establishment and reviewing of the role of governmental bodies (10)

9. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GMI - Coordination and National Plan of Action (II) (25 EU countries and 4 accession/candidate countries) What are the key recommendations? (29) - to ensure the establishment of a single permanent and effective coordination mechanism on the rights of the child (12) - to allocate sufficient financial and human resources for the effective functioning of such a mechanism in order to allow the effective implementation of the coordination role (14) - to strengthen coordination between the various governmental mechanisms involved in children's rights (8) - to strengthen the coordination within the institutional framework designed to promote and protect the rights of the child in particular, cooperating closely with non-governmental organizations and civil society (8) - to prepare and implement a coherent and comprehensive right-based national plan of action for the implementation of the Convention (8)

10. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GMI - Dissemination and training (article 42) (23 EU member countries and 4 EU accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (24) - The efforts to make the principles and the provisions of the Convention widely known (14) What are the key recommendations? (27) - to continue or strengthen their efforts to make the Convention widely known and understood by adults as well as children (17) - to dedicate specific attention, as regards the dissemination of the convention, to reaching vulnerable groups (8) - to incorporate the Convention in the school curricula (8)

11. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GMI - Independent monitoring institutions (20 EU member countries and 4 EU accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (23) - The establishment at the national level of the children's rights commissioners, ombudsperson for children or national councils for children (8) - The existence of a national institution for the general protection of human rights (8) What are the key recommendations? (24) - to establish independent human rights institutions at the national level accessible to children and empowered to receive and investigate complaints of violations of child rights (16) - to support or strengthen with sufficient human and financial resources the office of the Ombudsman for Children (8)

12. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GMI - Data collection (25 EU member countries and 4 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (16) - the extensive quality and quantity of statistical data provided by EU Countries (12) - the establishment of specific instruments, programmes or organisms dealing with the collection of statistical data (6) What are the key recommendations? (29) - to use indicators and / or data collected to formulate / monitor laws, policies and programmes to implement the CRC (21) - to strengthen efforts to establish / develop / update a (nationwide) system for a comprehensive collection of indicators and comparative disaggregated data (15)

13. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna - Non discrimination (article 2) - Best interest of the child (article 3) - Right to life, survival and development (article 6) - Respect for the view of the child (article 12) 2. General Principles (GP)

14. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GP - Non discrimination (article 2) (24 EU countries and 3 acceding/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (17) -The effort made to address positive legal and administrative efforts made to address racial discrimination (14) What are the key recommendations? (27) -To include specific information on the measures undertaken by the State to follow up on the Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, 2001 (22) -To develop and adoption of effective strategies to eliminate the existing forms of discrimination among children at the national level (17) -To ensure equal access to education, health and other services (11)

15. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GP - Best interest of the child (article 3) (11 EU countries and 4 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (9) - the inclusion of the principle of best interest in the national legislation (8) What are the key recommendations? (15) - to integrate this principle into all the revisions made to legislation, judicial and administrative decisions (7) - to appropriately analyse the principle of the best interests of the child in all those situations having an impact on children (6)

16. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GP - Right to life, survival and development (article 6) (6 EU Countries and 2 EU accession/candidate Countries) What are the key recommendations ? (8) - to raise awareness about, and undertake public information campaigns in relation to, accident prevention (4) - to promote initiatives with a view to diminishing the number and consequences of accidents involving children (4)

17. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna GP - Respect for the view of the child (article 12) (21 EU Countries and 3 acceding/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (18) - the adoption of various legal and administrative measures to guarantee the respect of the view of the child (7) - the reviewing and harmonising the national legislation in order to reinforce the rights of the child to express his/her own opinions freely in all matters affecting her/him (7) - the establishment of national representative authorities (5) What are the key recommendations? (24) - to provide the reinforcement of awareness raising campaigns among the public in general as well as the education and training of professionals (13) - to continue to promote within the family, schools, administrative bodies and other institutions the respect for the view of the children (11) - to adopt provisions to ensure that article 12 is fully implemented and would be applicable to courts, administrative bodies, institutions, schools, childcare centres and in family matters affecting children (8)

18. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna - Right to identity (article 7) - Freedom of religion (article 14) - Right to access to appropriate information (article 17) - Corporal Punishment and Abuse (article 19) - Torture, degrading treatment and deprivation of liberty (article 37) 3. Civil Rights and Freedom (CRF)

19. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna CRF - Right to access to appropriate information (article 17) (10 EU countries and 1 EU accession/candidate country) Have any positive achievements been identified? (9) - legislative acts and amendments of the Penal Code (5) What are the key recommendations? (11) - to strengthen the measures to protect children from the possible dangers deriving from the use of the media, Internet and videogames (11)

20. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna CRF - Corporal Punishment and Abuse (article 19) (20 EU countries and 4 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (9) - that corporal punishment has been prohibited by law in all settings, including in the family and within various other legal instruments to fight against domestic violence (6) What are the key recommendations? (24) - to take all the necessary legislative measures to extend the prohibition of corporal punishment on children explicitly in the family, in schools (13) - to carry out public education campaign about the negative consequences of corporal punishment (11) - to undertake initiatives aiming to change the public attitude and approach to corporal punishment (6)

21. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna EDUCATION (E) E - (articles 28 and 29) (24 EU countries, 4 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (21) - the importance given to rights to education (5) - the provision of free compulsory schooling through a minimum age (5) What are the key recommendations? (28) - further enhance system of education for children with disabilities / in rural areas /belonging to minority groups / in special schools (17) - the importance to ensure human rights education (15) - to take into consideration / promote / implement quality of education (14) - to study / prevent / reduce dropping out (13)

22. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna -Parental guidance and protection owed to families by the State (articles 5 and 18) -Alternative care for children deprived of their family environment (article 20) -Adoption (article 21) -Family reunification (article 10) -Child abuse (articles 19 and 39) 5. Family environment (FE)

23. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna FE - Alternative care (article 20) (17 EU countries and 4 EU accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (5) -adoption of specific laws or plans of action to care for the needs of children deprived of their family environment (4) What are the key recommendations? (21) - increase the availability of foster care providing greater financial assistance (14) - undertake a periodic review of placement (8) - guarantee the contact between the children placed in out-of-home care and their parents (8) - take into account children's views in any decision regarding their placement (8)

24. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna FE - Adoption (article 21) (9 EU countries and 3 EU accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (3) - ratification of the Hague Convention on intercountry adoption (3) What are the key recommendations? (12) - to ratify the Hague Convention or ensure that their legislation complies with the principle of the Hague Convention (7)

25. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna FE - Child abuse (articles 19 - 39) ( 21 EU countries and 4 EU accession/candidate countries.) Have any positive achievements been identified? (21) - adoption of laws to ensure the protection of the child’s moral, physical and sexual integrity or to prevent domestic violence (10) What are the key recommendations? (25) - to run public campaigns to prevent and combat all forms of child abuse, also with the participation of children (14) - to provide for the care, full physical and psychological recovery and reintegration of the child victims of abuse (12) - to establish child-friendly procedures and mechanisms to receive, monitor and investigate complaints (12)

26. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna -Children with disabilities (article 23) -Basic health, health care, health services and welfare (article 24) -Health of adolescents (article 24) -Standard of living (article 27) 6. Health (H)

27. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna H - Children with disabilities (article 23) (I) (19 EU countries and 2 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (21) - the growing number of children with disabilities who are integrated into mainstream education (6) - the establishment of national policy on special education for children with disabilities (4)

28. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna H - Children with disabilities (article 23) (II) (19 EU countries and 2 accession/candidate countries) What are the key recommendations? (21) - to fulfil the principles set in the two Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (8) -to increase the research on the diagnosis and the treatment of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and ADD (Attention Deficient Disorder) (7) - to make available the necessary resources and assistance for activities of the diagnosis and the treatment of mental health problems (7) - to provide policies aimed at encouraging the integration of children with disabilities into regular educational system and the inclusion into society also by providing special training to teachers and making school more accessible (7)

29. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna H - Health of adolescents (article 24) (23 EU countries and 2 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (10) - efforts / progress on the issue of health problem faced by adolescents, in particular about: drug abuse (4) tobacco (4) use and alcohol abuse (3) cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS (2) health and sex education in schools (3) What are the key recommendations? (25) - to promote / develop / strength mental health programmes, policies / services for adolescents (16) - to promote / include or strengthen the programme of health education in schools (15), including sexual and reproductive health (12) - to develop youth-friendly counselling, care and rehabilitation facilities (12) - more information campaigns / programmes addressed to adolescents concerning family planning or birth control measures (11)

30. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna -Street children (articles 9 and 20) -Unaccompanied foreign children, refugees and asylum- seeking children (article 22) - Children of minorities or of indigenous peoples (article 30) -Economic exploitation (article 32) -Drug abuse (article 33) -Sexual exploitation, abuse and trafficking (articles 34 and 35) -Administration of juvenile justice (articles 37, 39 and 40) 7. Special measures of protection (SMP)

31. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna SMP - Unaccompanied foreign children, refugees and asylum- seeking children (article 22) (20 EU countries and 3 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (17) - effort to discuss / approve national legal reforms to improve the legal situation of asylum-seeking children and to pay more attention to their needs (11) - establish or increase special accommodation / reception centres for unaccompanied minors and separated asylum-seeking children (3) What are the key recommendations? (23) - to facilitate access to basic services such as education and health (15), in particular ensure adequate living conditions and full / equal access to education, health services, including psychological care (9) - the need of special assistance and protection of the rights of children in particular legal aid and procedures of children seeking asylum (10) - the need to adopt national legislative reforms (10) / implement existing laws (7)

32. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna SMP - Children of minorities or of indigenous peoples (article 30) (19 EU countries and 4 EU accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (13) - the adoption of specific laws or plans of action on the rights of minorities and for the prevention of their social exclusion (6) What are the key recommendations? (23) - to adopt legislative measures and implement policies aimed at the full enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the Convention by Roma children (6) - to adopt measures to promote the social inclusion to combat the marginalisation of Roma children in society (6)

33. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna SMP - Drug abuse (article 33) (21 EU countries and 3 EU accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (6) - the efforts undertaken to prevent and fight this phenomenon, e.g. through health education in schools and national plans of action and programmes (6) What are the key recommendations? (24) - to strengthen or set up appropriate services for the care and rehabilitation (13) - to provide children and parents with accurate and objective information about the harmful consequences of drug, alcohol and/or tobacco abuse (9)

34. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna SMP - Sexual exploitation, abuse and trafficking (articles 34, 35) (23 EU countries and 1 accession/candidate country) Have any positive achievements been identified? (15) - the adoption of the National Plan of Action, to fight commercial sexual abuse of children and against sexual abuse and child pornography on the Internet (7) - the amendment of criminal law providing a new regulation on trafficking in human beings, prostitution, pornography and sexual tourism targeting children (7) What are the key recommendations? (24) - to establish national monitoring mechanisms and of undertaking studies assessing the causes, nature and extent of sexual exploitation, including on the Internet (11) - to establish appropriate recovery and reintegration programmes and services (9) - to allocate appropriate human and financial resources to policies and programmes in this area (7)

35. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna SMP -Administration of juvenile justice (articles 37, 39 and 40) (25 EU countries and 4 accession/candidate countries) Have any positive achievements been identified? (12) - the adoption of juvenile justice law reforms have been approved (12) or still pending discussion in national Parliaments (4) - the introduction of a system of special juvenile justice courts and of training courses for juvenile justice staff (2) What are the key recommendations? (29) - to ensure the full implementation, compliance or integration of juvenile justice standard rules, in particular articles 37, 39 and 40 of the CRC, as well as the Beijing Rules, the Riyadh and the Vienna Guidelines (26) - as regards criminal law and criminal proceedings, take into consideration the need to have access to legal aid / the need to alternative measures, including pre-trial detention / the need to increase probation (19) - to ensure that the deprivation of liberty of children is really a measure of last resort (17), accompanied by the request for it to be the shortest time possible (8), separated from adults in detention or custody (10) - need for specialized training for the juvenile justice staff (12)

36. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna - the majority of general measures and principles are not present only in their specific paragraph at the beginning of the Committee’s COs - the great attention of the Committee to leading the States parties, through a positive and open dialogue, in the process of CRC implementation at the national level - the discussion between the Committee and the States aims to disseminate a culture based on the children’s rights - the need for technical assistance for the implementation of the CRC and other UN international standards in specific issues Some conclusions

37. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna The final report, at the end of June, will be published in a CD-Rom and in the web site: www.childoneurope.org

38. “L’Europe de l’Enfance”, Mai 2006, Vienna

39.     THANK   YOU VERY MUCH   FOR YOUR PRECIOUS   ATTENTION     